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NARRATOR:
A successful tech entrepreneur
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vanishes from a popular
Florida beach town.
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Are you looking at me?
[LAUGHS]
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It was extremely unlikely
that he would just leave town
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without an explanation.
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Everybody's looking for him
and this is weird.
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NARRATOR: Police discover
his search for a new life
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may have taken him
down a dark path.
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KRIS: He just kind of fell
into our gutter punk
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circle of friends
pretty easily.
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Donal was living
the Florida lifestyle.
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He didn't have a job
but he had a fat bank account,
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and he would hang out
with these kids.
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And somebody was siphoning off
money over $20,000.
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Who were these kids?
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What is the connection?
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At his house, there was
an alarming amount of blood.
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NARRATOR: And an investigation
leads detectives
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to a horrifying discovery.
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There was a freezer
that was used as a coffin.
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Now, we've gone into
a homicide investigation.
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[**]
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NARRATOR: Melbourne, Florida
is a surfer's paradise.
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A funky beach town
with an active arts community
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that's shared
by college students
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and cutting edge
tech entrepreneurs.
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It's at the center
of Florida's Space Coast.
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Brevard County
is a mix of towns.
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You have the tourist area
of Cocoa Beach.
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You have
the Kennedy Space Center.
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And then you have Melbourne
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which is right off
of the Indian River.
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I moved to Melbourne
because it was low key,
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but it's a small town,
a wonderful place
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to raise my family
and have my kids feel safe.
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You know, you hear
all these bad stories
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about Chicago
and New York City.
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We don't have any
of that here.
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[**]
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NARRATOR: But on this
October afternoon,
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that reassuring sense
of tranquility is shaken
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when authorities descend
on the backyard of a property
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in the town of Canaveral Groves
just outside of Melbourne.
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Canaveral Groves was a pretty
rural community, pretty quiet.
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It's a place where you would
find endless orange grove.
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NARRATOR: The police
are following a lead
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in the search
for a missing man.
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We made a request
to the sheriff's office
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to provide their helicopter
for a fly over of the scene.
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They spotted one
very small area,
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their equipment had picked up
just a real minor variation
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in temperature in the dirt
right there.
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We discovered within about
eight inches of the surface,
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a corner of something
that was consistent
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with a chest freezer.
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Once we had broke
the soil area
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around the lid
of the freezer,
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there was a distinct odor
of decomposition.
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It's a smell
that you never forget.
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In order to preserve
the integrity
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of anything in that freezer,
what we wanna do
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is transport that freezer
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to the medical
examiner's office.
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SCOTT:
Fire department got involved
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because they were able to use
the jaws of life
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and other tools to cut away
the meat freezer.
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Exposing the skeletal remains
of a human being.
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The victim
was badly decomposed.
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The body was encased
in sleeping bags
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and bound with telephone cord
at the legs.
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The hands were handcuffed
behind the back.
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The body was positioned
kind of on their side
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into the meat freezer,
so it would fit.
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And now we need
to determine who buried
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the body in the backyard.
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KRIS: In Melbourne,
you take people as they are.
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You're not like
"Oh, you don't dress right,
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so you can't hang out with us."
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NARRATOR: In the late 1990s,
Melbourne, Florida is home
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to a scrappy crew
of skateboarders.
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[**]
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KRIS: For kids our age,
you were usually
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preppy, a surfer, or a skater.
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Preppy kids hung out
at the mall.
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Surfers hung out on the beach,
and skaters sat on the gutter.
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And watch each other
pull skate tricks.
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NARRATOR:
When they aren't skating,
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the tightknit group of friends
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is often found hanging out
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at their favorite coffee joint,
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The Sun Shoppe Cafe.
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DURKE:
That's where everybody went.
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If you are bored,
you went to The Sun Shoppe
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just to see what was going on.
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And I was working there.
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We spent all day
at the coffee shop.
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And one day Donal showed up.
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[**]
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DURKE: Donal was older than us.
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He had cargo pants
with a hip pack.
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He would come in--
he would make little like quips
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and jokes about things and we
just thought he was hilarious.
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NARRATOR: 42-year-old
businessman, Donal O'Sullivan
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strikes up a friendship
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with the crew
of young skateboarders.
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Everyone called him D.
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No one called him Donal.
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He was super nice
and he just kind of fell
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into our gutter punk circle
of friends pretty easily.
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-Hey, are you looking at me?
-WOMAN: Yeah.
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Are you looking at me?
[LAUGHS]
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NARRATOR: A successful
tech entrepreneur,
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Donal spends his days
scoping out
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potential business ventures
with his brother Dennis.
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D, had made some money
and sort of retired early
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by building some
computer company.
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In the mid-1990s,
he developed Netcentric Corp,
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a software company
that would actually work
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with innovating faxes
for business.
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NARRATOR: While Donal's
professional life
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has been a success,
he's had his share
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of personal hardship,
including bouts of depression.
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When I first met D,
he was struggling
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with some depression.
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He was struggling with anxiety.
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J.D.: Donal was dealing
with a number of issues.
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The company that he had
co-founded was bought out.
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And then all of a sudden,
it's gone.
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Donal was
from Atlanta, Georgia.
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He wanted to just get out.
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He decided to come down
to Florida to restart his life.
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DURKE: Oh.
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We're dirty skater kids,
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but he really was fun.
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And I think it was like,
"Hey, these kids keep me young."
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Or keeping my mind off
of whatever turmoil
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he was dealing with.
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So at Shack Town,
which was the skater house
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that we lived in,
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Donal just loved coming over
and hanging out there.
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WOMAN: Hey, fun-oh.
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Fun-oh.
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I would see Donal at least
three to four times a week
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between Sun Shoppe
and Shack Town.
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[**]
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NARRATOR:
In late September 1998,
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The kids in the skateboard crew
noticed that their friend D
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hasn't been around lately.
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KRIS: That's when we started
to question,
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"Well, when's the last time
you saw D?
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Well, when's the last time
you saw D?"
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And everybody realized
they hadn't seen him.
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NARRATOR: His brother Dennis
grows worried
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when Donal's phone
goes unanswered for weeks,
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and his home appears deserted.
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Concerned that Donal
may be suffering
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another bout of depression
and could be in crisis,
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Dennis contacts the police.
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[PHONE RINGING]
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You're dealing
with an adult man.
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He had a manic depressive
diagnosis at some point,
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and he would go black
from time to time,
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go off the radar.
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He had the money
to do just that.
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[**]
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If we have extenuating
circumstances like depression,
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or any kind
of mental health issues,
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we check with the local
mental health facilities
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in Melbourne.
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But if nobody's heard from him
for several weeks,
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we're gonna start
checking bank records.
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NARRATOR: And the officers
concerns grow
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when they discover substantial
unexpected withdrawals
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from Donal's account.
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Donal's bank records indicate
some suspicious activity.
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Somebody was siphoning off
money over $20,000.
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NARRATOR: Wondering
if the unusual withdrawal
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could be connected to Donal's
manic depression.
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Detectives head to the bank
to get more information.
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And what they learn
is troubling.
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The bank employee said
that a younger male
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had been attempting
several times
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to cash checks
on Donal O'Sullivan's account.
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That's something
to be very alarmed about.
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J.D.: The representative says
we've had someone coming in
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and saying he's the son
of Donal.
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We weren't comfortable
around police.
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Our interactions
with the police officers
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were us getting in trouble.
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NARRATOR: It's been days
since anyone has heard
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00:10:49,733 --> 00:10:52,944
from Florida businessman,
Donal O'Sullivan.
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His bank reports
someone has been trying
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to access his account.
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And it's not Donal.
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00:11:00,326 --> 00:11:01,786
DET. CASEY:
If you have a missing person
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and you have continued
either activity
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00:11:04,039 --> 00:11:06,124
or attempted activity
on your accounts,
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00:11:06,166 --> 00:11:08,168
that's something to be
very alarmed about.
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00:11:08,209 --> 00:11:10,503
The information we got
from the bank
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was that a younger male
had been attempting
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00:11:13,965 --> 00:11:18,803
several times to cash checks
on Donal O'Sullivan's account.
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00:11:22,891 --> 00:11:24,225
J.D.: The representative says,
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00:11:24,267 --> 00:11:26,269
"Look, we've had someone
coming in
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00:11:26,311 --> 00:11:28,855
and saying that he is--
his name is Michael O'Sullivan.
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He's the son of Donal."
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00:11:32,859 --> 00:11:36,988
He explained that the signature
on the account
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does not match
Donal's signatures.
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00:11:45,288 --> 00:11:47,916
J.D.: Then police go back
to the family
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00:11:47,957 --> 00:11:52,003
and they find out
there is no Michael O'Sullivan.
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There is no son.
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00:11:55,382 --> 00:11:59,260
So, whoever is identifying
themselves as Donal's son
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00:11:59,302 --> 00:12:03,682
is lying about their identity,
which worried us.
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00:12:03,723 --> 00:12:07,727
Do we have a criminal event
involved in this missing person?
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00:12:11,398 --> 00:12:12,816
[PHONE RINGING]
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00:12:12,857 --> 00:12:13,900
NARRATOR: Concern grows
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00:12:13,942 --> 00:12:15,026
when the missing man's brother
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00:12:15,068 --> 00:12:16,778
Dennis informs police
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he's received
a disturbing call.
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00:12:20,782 --> 00:12:24,202
The phone call came
from a little PO Box shop
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00:12:24,244 --> 00:12:25,745
that dealt with mail.
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00:12:25,787 --> 00:12:29,082
Someone was picking up
Donal's mail.
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00:12:31,418 --> 00:12:33,336
But it wasn't Donal.
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[**]
224
00:12:38,758 --> 00:12:40,135
DET. CASEY:
The owner of the business
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00:12:40,176 --> 00:12:43,221
had almost daily
contacts with Donal.
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00:12:43,263 --> 00:12:46,641
And she was very suspicious
of a young man
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00:12:46,683 --> 00:12:50,020
who came in and explained
that Donal was out of town
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00:12:50,061 --> 00:12:52,313
and that he would be picking up
Donal's mail.
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00:12:54,941 --> 00:12:58,236
NARRATOR: The information
raises detectives' eyebrows.
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00:12:58,278 --> 00:12:59,863
Who is the young man?
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00:12:59,904 --> 00:13:01,364
And could he be the same person
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00:13:01,406 --> 00:13:05,368
attempting withdrawals
from Donal's bank account?
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00:13:05,410 --> 00:13:07,078
When Dennis tells
the investigators
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00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:08,997
that his brother Donal
has been hanging out
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00:13:09,039 --> 00:13:11,124
with a crew
of young skateboarders,
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00:13:11,166 --> 00:13:14,794
they can't ignore
the possible connection.
237
00:13:14,836 --> 00:13:16,629
Donal was living
the Florida lifestyle.
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00:13:16,671 --> 00:13:19,132
He didn't have a job
but he had a fat bank account,
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and he would hang out
with these kids.
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He's in his early 40s
and they're, uh, in their 20s.
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Who were these kids?
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What is the connection?
243
00:13:32,062 --> 00:13:33,438
Is it drugs?
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00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:37,650
Uh, is it, uh,
something more nefarious?
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00:13:37,692 --> 00:13:39,110
DET. CASEY: There's a
possibility that somebody
246
00:13:39,152 --> 00:13:42,906
who presented themselves
as Donal's close friend
247
00:13:42,947 --> 00:13:46,201
could actually be involved.
248
00:13:46,242 --> 00:13:47,869
NARRATOR: Police head
to The Sun Shoppe Cafe
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00:13:47,911 --> 00:13:51,915
to question these
unlikely friends.
250
00:13:51,956 --> 00:13:54,125
KRIS: We weren't comfortable
around police,
251
00:13:54,167 --> 00:13:55,960
our interactions
with the police officers
252
00:13:56,002 --> 00:13:59,964
were us getting in trouble
for skating.
253
00:14:00,006 --> 00:14:03,051
But I was concerned that
because we were skater kids,
254
00:14:03,093 --> 00:14:05,387
they were going to ignore
all of us,
255
00:14:05,428 --> 00:14:09,140
and just not pay attention
to anything that we had to say.
256
00:14:10,850 --> 00:14:13,728
NARRATOR: The skaters insist
none of them have access
257
00:14:13,770 --> 00:14:16,898
to Donal's bank account
or his mail.
258
00:14:16,940 --> 00:14:20,193
They informed us that it was
extremely unlikely to them
259
00:14:20,235 --> 00:14:25,115
that he would just leave town
without an explanation.
260
00:14:25,156 --> 00:14:27,283
They were worried
about his whereabouts.
261
00:14:30,245 --> 00:14:33,373
He was the nicest
most relatable adult
262
00:14:33,415 --> 00:14:35,458
that I felt like I knew.
263
00:14:35,500 --> 00:14:38,169
He was a grown up
that didn't tell you
264
00:14:38,211 --> 00:14:39,921
you're not doing
what you're supposed to,
265
00:14:39,963 --> 00:14:41,214
study harder.
266
00:14:41,256 --> 00:14:42,966
Where's your ambition?
267
00:14:43,008 --> 00:14:45,760
He wanted to help you
get there.
268
00:14:45,802 --> 00:14:50,015
I was nervous that he's missing
and we can't find D.
269
00:14:50,056 --> 00:14:53,476
We're really starting to worry,
something was wrong.
270
00:14:56,563 --> 00:14:59,232
NARRATOR: The detectives
can find no apparent connection
271
00:14:59,274 --> 00:15:04,154
between the skateboard crew
and Donal's disappearance.
272
00:15:04,195 --> 00:15:05,739
They learned that Donal
owns a house
273
00:15:05,780 --> 00:15:07,907
on Lincoln Avenue in Melbourne,
274
00:15:07,949 --> 00:15:10,076
so they head there
to see if it contains
275
00:15:10,118 --> 00:15:13,079
any clues that
might lead to him.
276
00:15:13,121 --> 00:15:17,751
During our initial scan
of the exterior,
277
00:15:17,792 --> 00:15:21,212
we found a trashcan
278
00:15:21,254 --> 00:15:25,467
which had QUIKRETE bag
in the garbage.
279
00:15:26,968 --> 00:15:30,430
QUIKRETE is a material
to make concrete.
280
00:15:32,932 --> 00:15:36,478
DET. CASEY: We noticed
there was a number of scratches
281
00:15:36,519 --> 00:15:38,813
on the porch itself.
282
00:15:38,855 --> 00:15:42,108
Then there were a number
of gouge marks on the door.
283
00:15:44,402 --> 00:15:46,237
Those were all fresh.
284
00:15:46,279 --> 00:15:49,240
It look like somebody
was moving large pieces
285
00:15:49,282 --> 00:15:51,242
of furniture
or something very heavy.
286
00:15:55,538 --> 00:15:57,582
SCOTT: We entered the porch.
287
00:15:57,624 --> 00:15:59,918
And we observed
what looked like
288
00:15:59,959 --> 00:16:03,838
wheel impressions
on the linoleum floor.
289
00:16:05,465 --> 00:16:08,468
Consistent with a dolly
290
00:16:08,510 --> 00:16:13,890
going up and coming
down the stairs.
291
00:16:13,932 --> 00:16:15,183
NARRATOR:
The damage to the steps
292
00:16:15,225 --> 00:16:17,102
and door jamb are puzzling.
293
00:16:17,143 --> 00:16:19,229
Investigators make
their way upstairs
294
00:16:19,270 --> 00:16:22,440
to the second floor
to check things out.
295
00:16:22,482 --> 00:16:24,275
As we got up
to the second floor,
296
00:16:24,317 --> 00:16:27,862
there was a bedroom
and inside of that bedroom
297
00:16:29,239 --> 00:16:31,449
there was a single mattress.
298
00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:37,288
Underneath the mattress
and on the carpet,
299
00:16:37,330 --> 00:16:41,001
there was what appeared to be
300
00:16:41,042 --> 00:16:42,961
an alarming amount of blood.
301
00:16:56,016 --> 00:16:57,225
NARRATOR: Donal O'Sullivan
has been missing
302
00:16:58,059 --> 00:16:59,519
for more than two weeks
303
00:16:59,561 --> 00:17:01,813
when police make
a gruesome discovery
304
00:17:01,855 --> 00:17:05,734
at a house he owns
in Melbourne, Florida.
305
00:17:05,775 --> 00:17:09,821
One bedroom contained
a mattress on the floor.
306
00:17:10,697 --> 00:17:12,991
As we got close,
307
00:17:13,033 --> 00:17:15,869
we could see footwear
impressions and blood.
308
00:17:18,079 --> 00:17:21,124
And then we observed blood
on the mattress.
309
00:17:23,918 --> 00:17:26,046
The pooling stain.
310
00:17:28,423 --> 00:17:31,509
DET. CASEY:
We knew we have a crime scene.
311
00:17:31,551 --> 00:17:34,721
There's no doubt that now
312
00:17:34,763 --> 00:17:37,182
we've gone from
a missing person case
313
00:17:37,223 --> 00:17:39,100
into a homicide investigation.
314
00:17:42,896 --> 00:17:44,856
NARRATOR:
The property is locked down
315
00:17:44,898 --> 00:17:47,984
and a forensic team
processes the home.
316
00:17:49,903 --> 00:17:54,074
When we did our initial
observation downstairs,
317
00:17:54,115 --> 00:17:57,911
we found what we believed
to be couple baskets
318
00:17:57,952 --> 00:17:59,996
from the meat freezer.
319
00:18:02,165 --> 00:18:04,501
We looked around the residence.
320
00:18:06,753 --> 00:18:08,546
There was no meat freezer.
321
00:18:10,799 --> 00:18:14,552
That was kind of strange.
322
00:18:14,594 --> 00:18:16,888
NARRATOR: Then flipping through
papers found in the home,
323
00:18:16,930 --> 00:18:21,976
investigators make another
intriguing discovery.
324
00:18:22,018 --> 00:18:24,729
There was a receipt
from a local appliance store
325
00:18:24,771 --> 00:18:29,067
for a freezer and the receipt
326
00:18:29,109 --> 00:18:31,027
was under the name
of an Eric Marshall.
327
00:18:35,115 --> 00:18:36,574
NARRATOR:
The detectives wonder,
328
00:18:36,616 --> 00:18:38,618
could Eric Marshall
be the same man
329
00:18:38,660 --> 00:18:41,579
trying to access
Donal O'Sullivan's bank account
330
00:18:41,621 --> 00:18:43,665
and picking up his mail?
331
00:18:43,707 --> 00:18:45,667
If so, he could be the link
332
00:18:45,709 --> 00:18:48,628
to finding out
what happened to Donal.
333
00:18:50,088 --> 00:18:51,589
DET. CASEY:
The obvious next step
334
00:18:51,631 --> 00:18:54,092
is to go
to the appliance store.
335
00:18:58,304 --> 00:19:00,598
When we discussed
the transaction
336
00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:02,809
with the appliance
store employees,
337
00:19:02,851 --> 00:19:05,603
everyone knew the name
of Eric Marshall.
338
00:19:08,148 --> 00:19:10,191
When the item was ready,
339
00:19:10,233 --> 00:19:14,112
the loading bay manager
got on the PA and announced
340
00:19:14,154 --> 00:19:18,033
that an item was ready
for pickup for Eric Marshall.
341
00:19:19,159 --> 00:19:20,827
He didn't answer.
342
00:19:21,786 --> 00:19:24,581
So, he got on the PA again.
343
00:19:24,622 --> 00:19:27,709
Again, there was no response.
344
00:19:27,751 --> 00:19:31,046
So, he got on a PA
for a third time.
345
00:19:31,087 --> 00:19:32,672
And he just announced,
346
00:19:32,714 --> 00:19:36,009
"Hey, who ordered
the body freezer?"
347
00:19:36,051 --> 00:19:38,845
At that time,
Eric Marshall stood up,
348
00:19:38,887 --> 00:19:40,930
walked directly over
to the loading bay manager
349
00:19:40,972 --> 00:19:43,224
and was very upset
and asked him,
350
00:19:43,266 --> 00:19:45,143
"Why would you say
something like that?"
351
00:19:47,020 --> 00:19:52,317
Then Marshall got the freezer
loaded in his truck and left.
352
00:19:52,359 --> 00:19:54,694
But everybody remembered
that event.
353
00:19:59,741 --> 00:20:01,743
NARRATOR:
But who is Eric Marshall?
354
00:20:01,785 --> 00:20:05,830
A search of state records
can find no such man.
355
00:20:05,872 --> 00:20:06,873
[PHONE RINGS]
356
00:20:06,915 --> 00:20:09,000
We immediately contacted
357
00:20:09,042 --> 00:20:10,710
all of Donal's friends,
358
00:20:10,752 --> 00:20:12,045
and what we discovered
is nobody
359
00:20:12,087 --> 00:20:14,589
had ever heard
of an Eric Marshall.
360
00:20:16,758 --> 00:20:18,593
NARRATOR: As the detectives
continue to search
361
00:20:18,635 --> 00:20:20,887
for information
about the mystery man,
362
00:20:20,929 --> 00:20:25,100
there's a break in another part
of their investigation.
363
00:20:25,141 --> 00:20:27,268
A lead to the identity
of the young man
364
00:20:27,310 --> 00:20:28,895
trying to make withdrawals
365
00:20:28,937 --> 00:20:32,691
from Donal O'Sullivan's
bank account.
366
00:20:32,732 --> 00:20:36,027
We were approached by a female
who was in the bank,
367
00:20:36,069 --> 00:20:38,697
who stated that
she recognized the person
368
00:20:38,738 --> 00:20:43,660
that attempted to cash checks
on Donal O'Sullivan's account.
369
00:20:44,911 --> 00:20:48,081
That person
was Daniel Tennity.
370
00:20:51,209 --> 00:20:53,753
NARRATOR: It's a familiar name
to the detectives.
371
00:20:53,795 --> 00:20:56,381
26-year-old Daniel
is one of the kids
372
00:20:56,423 --> 00:20:58,216
that Donal has been
hanging out with
373
00:20:58,258 --> 00:20:59,884
at the coffee shop.
374
00:20:59,926 --> 00:21:02,220
In fact,
he's a close enough friend
375
00:21:02,262 --> 00:21:04,055
that Donal has been
paying the rent
376
00:21:04,097 --> 00:21:07,392
for him and his roommate
Dave Fiddler.
377
00:21:07,434 --> 00:21:10,228
DURKE:
Dave Fiddler and Dan Tennity
378
00:21:10,270 --> 00:21:11,938
were in our crew.
379
00:21:11,980 --> 00:21:14,315
They were living in a house
next to Shack Town
380
00:21:14,357 --> 00:21:17,027
that was just atrocious.
381
00:21:17,068 --> 00:21:20,030
And they were looking
at different properties.
382
00:21:20,071 --> 00:21:23,241
They had this one house
on Pine Street that they liked,
383
00:21:23,283 --> 00:21:26,327
but they couldn't pass
a credit check.
384
00:21:26,369 --> 00:21:28,413
So Donal was like,
"Let me just rent this house
385
00:21:28,455 --> 00:21:31,791
and put the stuff on my name so
you guys have a place to stay."
386
00:21:33,460 --> 00:21:35,962
NARRATOR: But the information
from the witness at the bank
387
00:21:36,004 --> 00:21:38,214
tells detectives
there may be more
388
00:21:38,256 --> 00:21:41,343
to Daniel Tennity
than they know.
389
00:21:41,384 --> 00:21:44,971
When we inquired
as to how she knew him,
390
00:21:45,013 --> 00:21:46,931
she said, "Oh, I rented
a piece of property
391
00:21:46,973 --> 00:21:50,769
to Daniel Tennity,
and he stole my checks."
392
00:21:51,478 --> 00:21:52,812
So at that point,
393
00:21:52,854 --> 00:21:54,689
we began looking
for Daniel Tennity.
394
00:21:56,274 --> 00:21:57,859
[**]
395
00:21:57,901 --> 00:21:59,152
NARRATOR:
Police head to the house
396
00:21:59,194 --> 00:22:02,238
Donal is renting
for the skateboarders.
397
00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:05,784
Dave Fiddler
answered the door,
398
00:22:05,825 --> 00:22:08,244
and he explained to us
that Daniel Tennity
399
00:22:08,286 --> 00:22:09,788
has just gotten out of prison
400
00:22:09,829 --> 00:22:12,290
in the state of New York,
401
00:22:14,376 --> 00:22:16,002
and didn't know
his whereabouts
402
00:22:16,044 --> 00:22:17,337
at that time.
403
00:22:19,297 --> 00:22:20,924
NARRATOR:
The background information
404
00:22:20,965 --> 00:22:22,759
definitely raises eyebrows.
405
00:22:22,801 --> 00:22:24,969
Detectives head back
to the station
406
00:22:25,011 --> 00:22:26,888
to run a check on Daniel.
407
00:22:26,930 --> 00:22:29,057
They learned
his presence in Florida
408
00:22:29,099 --> 00:22:30,475
is a parole violation
409
00:22:30,517 --> 00:22:33,228
from a previous
burglary conviction.
410
00:22:33,269 --> 00:22:35,480
It doesn't make him
a murderer,
411
00:22:35,522 --> 00:22:38,441
but it is reason
to arrest him.
412
00:22:38,483 --> 00:22:41,069
We returned
to the property.
413
00:22:42,153 --> 00:22:44,030
When Dave answered
the door,
414
00:22:44,072 --> 00:22:47,409
we asked where
Daniel Tennity was.
415
00:22:47,450 --> 00:22:49,077
David Fiddler
very clearly said
416
00:22:49,119 --> 00:22:51,413
that he had no idea
where Daniel Tennity was.
417
00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:55,333
NARRATOR:
But as the detectives
418
00:22:55,375 --> 00:22:57,293
turn to leave,
they noticed Dave
419
00:22:57,335 --> 00:23:00,338
acting very strangely.
420
00:23:00,380 --> 00:23:01,840
He even said,
"You can come in
421
00:23:01,881 --> 00:23:04,300
and look for him
if you want."
422
00:23:04,342 --> 00:23:06,094
And while he was talking
to the officers,
423
00:23:06,136 --> 00:23:09,389
he kept pointing
to the back...
424
00:23:09,431 --> 00:23:10,890
of the room.
425
00:23:11,933 --> 00:23:14,227
[**]
426
00:23:18,398 --> 00:23:19,983
SCOTT:
You can store a body
427
00:23:20,025 --> 00:23:21,818
in a freezer indefinitely.
428
00:23:24,070 --> 00:23:25,989
DET. CASEY: When he came back
to the house,
429
00:23:26,031 --> 00:23:29,451
he discovered
that he was decomposing.
430
00:23:29,492 --> 00:23:31,202
[**]
431
00:23:31,244 --> 00:23:33,163
DURKE: I realized
something wasn't right.
432
00:23:45,675 --> 00:23:46,009
[**]
433
00:23:47,969 --> 00:23:49,929
NARRATOR:
Police in Florida hoping
434
00:23:49,971 --> 00:23:52,307
to question Daniel Tennity
about the disappearance
435
00:23:52,349 --> 00:23:56,603
of Donal O'Sullivan
have been told he's not home.
436
00:23:57,729 --> 00:23:59,189
But they noticed
that his roommate
437
00:23:59,230 --> 00:24:02,609
is behaving oddly.
438
00:24:02,650 --> 00:24:04,486
DET. CASEY: When Dave Fiddler
answered the door,
439
00:24:04,527 --> 00:24:07,447
he stated he had no idea
where Daniel Tennity was.
440
00:24:07,489 --> 00:24:09,866
[**]
441
00:24:09,908 --> 00:24:11,951
DET. CASEY: He was talking
to the officers,
442
00:24:11,993 --> 00:24:13,620
he kept pointing
443
00:24:13,661 --> 00:24:15,372
to the rear
of the residence.
444
00:24:16,748 --> 00:24:18,625
And said, "See,
he's not in there."
445
00:24:18,667 --> 00:24:19,959
And then pointed
to the bathroom.
446
00:24:20,001 --> 00:24:22,212
[**]
447
00:24:24,005 --> 00:24:25,590
DET. CASEY: When the officers
opened the door
448
00:24:25,632 --> 00:24:28,301
in the bathroom,
449
00:24:28,343 --> 00:24:29,844
Daniel Tennity was hiding
in the shower,
450
00:24:32,514 --> 00:24:34,683
and screamed,
"Don't shoot me."
451
00:24:34,724 --> 00:24:38,311
[**]
452
00:24:38,353 --> 00:24:39,646
DET. CASEY: They informed
Daniel Tennity,
453
00:24:39,688 --> 00:24:41,481
they had a warrant on him
for his arrest
454
00:24:41,523 --> 00:24:42,691
for a parole violation,
455
00:24:42,732 --> 00:24:44,818
and took him into custody.
456
00:24:46,319 --> 00:24:47,696
His excuse for hiding
457
00:24:47,737 --> 00:24:49,739
was that he didn't wanna
go back to prison
458
00:24:49,781 --> 00:24:51,199
on a parole violation.
459
00:24:51,241 --> 00:24:55,829
[SIREN BLARING]
460
00:24:55,870 --> 00:24:57,455
NARRATOR:
The arrest sends shockwaves
461
00:24:57,497 --> 00:24:59,374
through the Melbourne
skateboarder crew,
462
00:24:59,416 --> 00:25:01,751
who never suspected
Daniel Tennity
463
00:25:01,793 --> 00:25:04,587
of being a hardened criminal.
464
00:25:04,629 --> 00:25:07,007
KRIS: We knew Dan
had been in some trouble,
465
00:25:07,048 --> 00:25:08,842
and that he was kind
of coming to Florida
466
00:25:08,883 --> 00:25:10,218
to start over.
467
00:25:11,678 --> 00:25:15,598
I didn't know that
he had been in jail.
468
00:25:17,517 --> 00:25:21,563
[**]
469
00:25:21,604 --> 00:25:24,399
DURKE: I met Dan
in Rochester, New York.
470
00:25:24,441 --> 00:25:26,735
He's like a big brother to me
when we grew up.
471
00:25:28,528 --> 00:25:29,738
NARRATOR:
When they were teenagers,
472
00:25:29,779 --> 00:25:32,365
Durke's family moved
to Florida.
473
00:25:32,407 --> 00:25:34,576
Back in New York,
474
00:25:34,617 --> 00:25:36,536
Daniel's life took
a dark turn,
475
00:25:36,578 --> 00:25:40,957
when he went to prison
for a burglary conviction.
476
00:25:40,999 --> 00:25:43,376
After being released,
hoping to start over,
477
00:25:43,418 --> 00:25:46,713
he looked up his old friend
in Florida.
478
00:25:46,755 --> 00:25:48,673
DURKE: One day,
he just shows up.
479
00:25:50,300 --> 00:25:51,968
I-- I was just
blown away, like,
480
00:25:52,010 --> 00:25:53,303
"What are you doing here?"
481
00:25:53,345 --> 00:25:55,889
[**]
482
00:25:55,930 --> 00:25:58,600
DURKE: Out of prison,
parole's done,
483
00:25:58,641 --> 00:26:01,519
he's flying clear,
cleaning up his game.
484
00:26:02,854 --> 00:26:04,856
He was looking for jobs.
485
00:26:04,898 --> 00:26:06,399
He was working hard.
486
00:26:06,441 --> 00:26:07,734
Or so we thought.
487
00:26:10,445 --> 00:26:13,698
[**]
488
00:26:13,740 --> 00:26:15,658
NARRATOR: But now Daniel
is back in jail
489
00:26:15,700 --> 00:26:17,911
and police want answers,
490
00:26:17,952 --> 00:26:20,747
and not just about
Donal's bank account.
491
00:26:20,789 --> 00:26:22,957
They want to know
if he can tell them anything
492
00:26:22,999 --> 00:26:24,709
about what happened to Donal,
493
00:26:24,751 --> 00:26:26,544
and if he knows Eric Marshall,
494
00:26:26,586 --> 00:26:30,799
the man named on a receipt
found at Donal's house.
495
00:26:30,840 --> 00:26:32,634
DET. CASEY:
We still need to make sure
496
00:26:32,676 --> 00:26:35,595
exactly who was involved
in the case,
497
00:26:35,637 --> 00:26:38,723
and Eric Marshall
was still an unknown to us,
498
00:26:38,765 --> 00:26:41,601
we thought perhaps
Eric Marshall was, uh,
499
00:26:41,643 --> 00:26:43,895
an acquaintance
of Daniel Tennity.
500
00:26:43,937 --> 00:26:47,607
But he had no idea
who that individual was.
501
00:26:47,649 --> 00:26:49,401
NARRATOR: As far
as his actions at the bank,
502
00:26:49,442 --> 00:26:51,736
Daniel claims
there was nothing
503
00:26:51,778 --> 00:26:53,863
inappropriate about it.
504
00:26:53,905 --> 00:26:55,115
DET. CASEY:
He, very matter of fact,
505
00:26:55,156 --> 00:26:56,783
informed us that
he was doing work
506
00:26:56,825 --> 00:26:58,868
for Donal O'Sullivan.
507
00:26:58,910 --> 00:27:01,663
That's how he was paid
with checks,
508
00:27:01,705 --> 00:27:04,374
and that he was trying
to cash the checks.
509
00:27:04,416 --> 00:27:05,917
[INDISTINCT]
510
00:27:25,061 --> 00:27:26,896
NARRATOR: Detectives find
Daniel's answers
511
00:27:26,938 --> 00:27:29,649
to be plausible,
but after the interview,
512
00:27:29,691 --> 00:27:33,820
they get a call that turns
that assessment on its head.
513
00:27:33,862 --> 00:27:37,657
We received a phone call
from Durke Schmidt
514
00:27:37,699 --> 00:27:41,536
that Daniel had contacted him
from the county jail.
515
00:27:42,787 --> 00:27:45,623
DURKE: Dan asked me
to grab his Bible,
516
00:27:45,665 --> 00:27:47,042
his rosary beads,
517
00:27:47,083 --> 00:27:49,878
and send it to his mom
back in Rochester.
518
00:27:51,212 --> 00:27:53,715
And when I opened the Bible,
519
00:27:53,757 --> 00:27:55,717
that's when I realized,
520
00:27:55,759 --> 00:27:57,552
inside the Bible...
521
00:27:59,971 --> 00:28:03,016
was Donal's credit cards,
522
00:28:03,058 --> 00:28:05,018
it was Donal's license,
523
00:28:05,060 --> 00:28:06,436
some money,
524
00:28:06,478 --> 00:28:08,563
and blank checks.
525
00:28:09,939 --> 00:28:11,524
And that was where
I realized
526
00:28:11,566 --> 00:28:12,901
something wasn't right.
527
00:28:16,071 --> 00:28:17,822
[**]
528
00:28:17,864 --> 00:28:19,532
NARRATOR: Believing Daniel
could be hiding
529
00:28:19,574 --> 00:28:21,034
even more secrets,
530
00:28:21,076 --> 00:28:23,453
Durke and Daniel's roommate,
Dave Fiddler,
531
00:28:23,495 --> 00:28:25,413
begin searching the house.
532
00:28:26,664 --> 00:28:27,999
In an unused cabinet,
533
00:28:28,041 --> 00:28:31,127
they uncover
something strange.
534
00:28:31,169 --> 00:28:34,422
There was an oatmeal
cardboard cylinder,
535
00:28:36,508 --> 00:28:38,927
and it had a land deed in it.
536
00:28:40,136 --> 00:28:41,721
For this property,
that was up
537
00:28:41,763 --> 00:28:43,890
in-- in North Brevard County.
538
00:28:43,932 --> 00:28:46,101
I saw Dan's name.
539
00:28:47,769 --> 00:28:50,480
Red flags were everywhere.
540
00:28:52,273 --> 00:28:53,942
[**]
541
00:28:53,983 --> 00:28:55,652
NARRATOR:
After hearing from Durke,
542
00:28:55,694 --> 00:28:58,071
police pulled Daniel Tennity
out of his jail cell
543
00:28:58,113 --> 00:29:00,740
for another round
of questions.
544
00:29:00,782 --> 00:29:03,159
Once again,
he has an explanation
545
00:29:03,201 --> 00:29:05,495
for everything.
546
00:29:05,537 --> 00:29:08,206
He claims that he was holding
the property deed for Donal,
547
00:29:08,248 --> 00:29:11,793
who purchased the land
for a business venture.
548
00:29:11,835 --> 00:29:13,962
The deed was to a place
that's vacant,
549
00:29:14,004 --> 00:29:16,089
it's-- it's-- it's rural,
there's nothing there.
550
00:29:16,965 --> 00:29:18,758
So it makes you wonder,
551
00:29:18,800 --> 00:29:20,844
why would he purchase land
552
00:29:20,885 --> 00:29:23,471
in Canaveral Groves?
553
00:29:23,513 --> 00:29:25,015
NARRATOR: But it's something
else about the deed
554
00:29:25,056 --> 00:29:28,685
that really gets
the investigator's attention.
555
00:29:28,727 --> 00:29:31,938
The deed had
David Fiddler's name on it.
556
00:29:31,980 --> 00:29:35,191
Then his name
was crossed out,
557
00:29:35,233 --> 00:29:38,111
and there was a name
to transfer the property
558
00:29:38,153 --> 00:29:40,113
to a Daniel Trinity.
559
00:29:42,323 --> 00:29:44,784
NARRATOR: The detectives note
that the name Trinity
560
00:29:44,826 --> 00:29:47,662
is suspiciously close
to Daniel's last name,
561
00:29:47,704 --> 00:29:48,997
Tennity.
562
00:29:49,039 --> 00:29:50,832
Now, they want to know
why his roommate,
563
00:29:50,874 --> 00:29:54,127
Dave Fiddler's name,
is also on the document.
564
00:29:54,169 --> 00:29:57,255
Is he hiding something
from them?
565
00:29:57,297 --> 00:29:59,257
DURKE: Like,
why was this deed here?
566
00:30:12,145 --> 00:30:12,479
[**]
567
00:30:15,440 --> 00:30:18,276
NARRATOR: Florida detectives
believed Daniel Tennity
568
00:30:18,318 --> 00:30:20,278
may be involved
in the disappearance
569
00:30:20,320 --> 00:30:23,198
of Donal O'Sullivan.
570
00:30:23,239 --> 00:30:24,657
They're examining
a property deed
571
00:30:24,699 --> 00:30:26,618
connected to Donal
that bears
572
00:30:26,659 --> 00:30:28,953
what could be Daniel's name.
573
00:30:28,995 --> 00:30:31,206
But they wanna know why
it also includes
574
00:30:31,247 --> 00:30:34,626
the name of Daniel's roommate,
Dave Fiddler.
575
00:30:34,668 --> 00:30:36,961
J.D.: Police investigate
this deed,
576
00:30:37,003 --> 00:30:38,213
and they find out
577
00:30:38,254 --> 00:30:40,590
that the money used
to purchase the property
578
00:30:40,632 --> 00:30:42,550
actually came from Donal,
579
00:30:42,592 --> 00:30:44,302
$2,000 in cash,
580
00:30:44,344 --> 00:30:47,347
$4,000 written out in checks.
581
00:30:49,099 --> 00:30:50,684
All from Donal's account.
582
00:30:55,021 --> 00:30:58,483
DET. CASEY: David Fiddler
was a little upset.
583
00:30:58,525 --> 00:31:01,069
He informed us that he had,
in no way, shape, or form,
584
00:31:01,111 --> 00:31:02,696
had any kind of involvement
585
00:31:02,737 --> 00:31:04,948
in that transaction
whatsoever.
586
00:31:05,573 --> 00:31:09,661
[**]
587
00:31:09,703 --> 00:31:11,287
NARRATOR: Dave tells police
Daniel put his name
588
00:31:11,329 --> 00:31:13,456
on the deed without asking
589
00:31:13,498 --> 00:31:15,583
to avoid any issues
that might arise
590
00:31:15,625 --> 00:31:17,252
from a background check.
591
00:31:17,293 --> 00:31:20,547
But Dave told them
to take his name off.
592
00:31:22,048 --> 00:31:24,092
DET. CASEY:
He was very cooperative,
593
00:31:24,134 --> 00:31:27,429
and it was obvious
he was very concerned.
594
00:31:29,055 --> 00:31:31,683
He gave us no reason
to suspect
595
00:31:31,725 --> 00:31:34,352
that he was being
untruthful with us.
596
00:31:37,355 --> 00:31:40,316
[**]
597
00:31:40,358 --> 00:31:42,110
NARRATOR: As days pass,
598
00:31:42,152 --> 00:31:45,155
the dread felt
by Donal's family and friends
599
00:31:45,196 --> 00:31:47,240
only increases.
600
00:31:47,282 --> 00:31:48,450
D was still missing,
601
00:31:48,491 --> 00:31:50,285
and everybody's looking
for him.
602
00:31:50,326 --> 00:31:53,204
This is weird, you know,
what happened?
603
00:31:57,167 --> 00:31:59,127
NARRATOR: Detectives continue
to pore over
604
00:31:59,169 --> 00:32:01,129
Donal's financial statements,
605
00:32:01,171 --> 00:32:05,467
and they discover
even more suspicious activity.
606
00:32:05,508 --> 00:32:07,218
DET. CASEY:
We were able to pull up
607
00:32:07,260 --> 00:32:10,096
some financial transactions.
608
00:32:10,138 --> 00:32:14,184
One of them was the rental
of a backhoe.
609
00:32:16,269 --> 00:32:20,190
It was rented with a check
from Donal O'Sullivan,
610
00:32:22,525 --> 00:32:26,613
and the address
to deliver the backhoe
611
00:32:26,654 --> 00:32:29,199
matched the location
on the deed.
612
00:32:29,240 --> 00:32:31,785
[SIREN BLARING]
613
00:32:31,826 --> 00:32:34,079
NARRATOR: Police rushed
to the remote area
614
00:32:34,120 --> 00:32:35,372
listed on the deed.
615
00:32:35,413 --> 00:32:38,708
They walked the property
from end to end.
616
00:32:38,750 --> 00:32:41,169
We wanted to see
if they could spot
617
00:32:41,211 --> 00:32:45,256
anything that was unusual
or disturbing.
618
00:32:46,633 --> 00:32:49,386
And they were like,
"We don't see anything."
619
00:32:49,427 --> 00:32:51,346
So Melbourne Police
arranged for a helicopter
620
00:32:51,388 --> 00:32:52,764
to go out and survey the land.
621
00:32:52,806 --> 00:32:56,142
[HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING]
622
00:33:00,105 --> 00:33:01,481
DET. CASEY:
And they said there's one
623
00:33:01,523 --> 00:33:04,442
very small area
in the sand.
624
00:33:04,484 --> 00:33:07,070
You might wanna take
a look at that.
625
00:33:07,112 --> 00:33:10,365
[**]
626
00:33:18,623 --> 00:33:20,542
NARRATOR:
On a sunny October afternoon,
627
00:33:20,583 --> 00:33:23,211
in the quiet suburb
of Canaveral Groves,
628
00:33:23,253 --> 00:33:26,840
police assemble to conduct
a forensic excavation
629
00:33:26,881 --> 00:33:28,633
in the backyard
of a property
630
00:33:28,675 --> 00:33:31,594
they have connected
to Donal O'Sullivan.
631
00:33:33,221 --> 00:33:35,390
DET. CASEY: We discovered,
within about
632
00:33:35,432 --> 00:33:38,393
eight inches
of the surface,
633
00:33:38,435 --> 00:33:40,770
a corner of something.
634
00:33:42,731 --> 00:33:44,816
And our crime scene people
basically do
635
00:33:44,858 --> 00:33:48,403
an excavation
of a 10x10 area.
636
00:33:48,445 --> 00:33:50,613
And within just
a few minutes,
637
00:33:52,323 --> 00:33:54,284
they discovered a freezer.
638
00:33:57,662 --> 00:33:59,664
Once we dug deep enough,
639
00:33:59,706 --> 00:34:01,833
we saw the serial number,
640
00:34:01,875 --> 00:34:04,794
and we were able to match up
the serial number
641
00:34:04,836 --> 00:34:07,255
to the freezer
to the serial number
642
00:34:07,297 --> 00:34:10,717
that was bought
at the appliance store.
643
00:34:10,759 --> 00:34:14,262
And it matched the receipt
we found in the house.
644
00:34:16,765 --> 00:34:18,433
NARRATOR: The freezer
is carefully removed
645
00:34:18,475 --> 00:34:19,893
from the ground
646
00:34:19,934 --> 00:34:22,437
and transported to
the medical examiner's office
647
00:34:22,479 --> 00:34:23,646
for processing.
648
00:34:27,734 --> 00:34:29,819
When the door was taken off
of the freezer,
649
00:34:31,404 --> 00:34:33,698
a layer of cement
was discovered.
650
00:34:33,740 --> 00:34:37,410
[**]
651
00:34:37,452 --> 00:34:38,578
When that layer of cement
652
00:34:38,620 --> 00:34:40,413
was very carefully
chipped away...
653
00:34:42,332 --> 00:34:44,459
...we discovered human remains.
654
00:34:44,501 --> 00:34:47,629
[**]
655
00:34:47,671 --> 00:34:50,215
DET. CASEY: That freezer
was merely used
656
00:34:50,256 --> 00:34:51,591
as a coffin.
657
00:34:51,633 --> 00:34:53,843
[**]
658
00:34:53,885 --> 00:34:56,471
SCOTT: We were able to use
dental records
659
00:34:56,513 --> 00:34:59,307
to be able
to positively identify
660
00:34:59,349 --> 00:35:03,228
our victim,
Donal O'Sullivan.
661
00:35:09,526 --> 00:35:10,860
NARRATOR:
For the skater crew,
662
00:35:10,902 --> 00:35:15,198
the news of Donal's murder
is devastating.
663
00:35:16,449 --> 00:35:18,660
I remember a police officer
just coming up to me
664
00:35:18,702 --> 00:35:21,413
and being, like,
"We found the body."
665
00:35:27,711 --> 00:35:29,713
It was the worst day ever.
666
00:35:30,714 --> 00:35:34,384
KRIS: When D died,
it was, like,
667
00:35:34,426 --> 00:35:36,261
not just did someone die,
668
00:35:36,302 --> 00:35:39,639
but an important person
was really lost here.
669
00:35:41,016 --> 00:35:43,393
It was huge, it was horrible.
670
00:35:44,644 --> 00:35:47,897
[**]
671
00:35:57,407 --> 00:35:59,492
NARRATOR: Though investigators
have a direct connection
672
00:35:59,534 --> 00:36:01,453
between Daniel Tennity
and the property
673
00:36:01,494 --> 00:36:03,872
where they unearthed
the freezer,
674
00:36:03,913 --> 00:36:05,999
they still are unable
to locate
675
00:36:06,041 --> 00:36:08,376
the mysterious Eric Marshall,
676
00:36:08,418 --> 00:36:10,378
who signed for the appliance.
677
00:36:10,420 --> 00:36:11,838
DET. CASEY:
We still had no idea
678
00:36:11,880 --> 00:36:14,466
who this Eric Marshall
person was.
679
00:36:14,507 --> 00:36:16,384
We gotta make sure
that we're not dealing
680
00:36:16,426 --> 00:36:18,261
with two people.
681
00:36:20,513 --> 00:36:23,683
We sent some investigators
back to the appliance store
682
00:36:23,725 --> 00:36:25,268
where the freezer,
um, was bought.
683
00:36:26,394 --> 00:36:28,521
They had a photo lineup.
684
00:36:28,563 --> 00:36:30,648
In that lineup was a--
as a mug photo
685
00:36:30,690 --> 00:36:32,442
of Daniel Tennity.
686
00:36:36,946 --> 00:36:38,823
Without any hesitation,
687
00:36:38,865 --> 00:36:42,911
all our witnesses
identified Eric Marshall
688
00:36:42,952 --> 00:36:44,496
as being Daniel Tennity.
689
00:36:44,537 --> 00:36:46,289
[**]
690
00:36:46,331 --> 00:36:48,333
DET. CASEY:
They were the same person.
691
00:36:49,542 --> 00:36:50,960
NARRATOR:
Daniel Tennity is charged
692
00:36:51,002 --> 00:36:54,089
with the murder
of Donal O'Sullivan,
693
00:36:54,130 --> 00:36:56,883
but short of a confession,
694
00:36:56,925 --> 00:36:58,760
prosecutors fear
they will not be able to prove
695
00:36:58,802 --> 00:37:01,763
he actually committed
the murder.
696
00:37:01,805 --> 00:37:03,431
Daniel isn't talking,
697
00:37:03,473 --> 00:37:05,433
but luckily
for investigators,
698
00:37:05,475 --> 00:37:07,769
his fellow inmates are.
699
00:37:07,811 --> 00:37:10,105
J.D.: This is big news
in Brevard County,
700
00:37:10,146 --> 00:37:12,649
and it even reached
the Brevard County Jail,
701
00:37:12,691 --> 00:37:15,485
where Dan was being housed.
702
00:37:16,861 --> 00:37:18,947
Dan told the inmates,
703
00:37:18,988 --> 00:37:21,783
"That story that
you're seeing on the TV,"
704
00:37:21,825 --> 00:37:23,535
"I'm the one who killed him."
705
00:37:23,576 --> 00:37:26,079
[**]
706
00:37:26,121 --> 00:37:28,081
J.D.: "I'm the one who buried
him in the backyard.
707
00:37:30,542 --> 00:37:31,960
DET. CASEY:
We needed to determine
708
00:37:32,002 --> 00:37:33,586
if this was reliable
information,
709
00:37:33,628 --> 00:37:36,423
so Daniel Tennity
could be indicted
710
00:37:36,464 --> 00:37:37,924
in the state of Florida
for the murder
711
00:37:54,232 --> 00:37:54,566
[**]
712
00:37:56,276 --> 00:37:58,737
NARRATOR: Authorities
charged Daniel Tennity
713
00:37:58,778 --> 00:38:01,156
with the murder
of Donal O'Sullivan.
714
00:38:01,197 --> 00:38:03,158
He insists he's innocent.
715
00:38:03,199 --> 00:38:04,909
But behind bars,
716
00:38:04,951 --> 00:38:07,078
he tells another story
to his fellow inmates
717
00:38:07,120 --> 00:38:10,206
at the Brevard County
Jail in Florida.
718
00:38:10,248 --> 00:38:12,334
J.D.: Daniel Tennity
is in jail,
719
00:38:12,375 --> 00:38:13,752
and he starts
running his mouth,
720
00:38:13,793 --> 00:38:16,129
he starts talking
about this case.
721
00:38:16,171 --> 00:38:17,839
Three different jail informants
722
00:38:17,881 --> 00:38:20,050
told police
the exact same story.
723
00:38:21,134 --> 00:38:23,845
They confirmed that
Daniel Tennity
724
00:38:23,887 --> 00:38:28,141
made a number
of admissions,
725
00:38:28,183 --> 00:38:32,145
and explained exactly
how the murder happened.
726
00:38:32,187 --> 00:38:35,815
The information that he had
was not public knowledge.
727
00:38:46,076 --> 00:38:47,285
J.D.: Dan had been
forging checks,
728
00:38:47,327 --> 00:38:49,162
uh, from Donal's account.
729
00:38:49,204 --> 00:38:51,498
And at one point,
Donal found out.
730
00:38:51,539 --> 00:38:54,876
[**]
731
00:38:54,918 --> 00:38:58,505
DET. CASEY: When Donal
confronted Daniel about that,
732
00:38:58,546 --> 00:39:00,048
a scuffle ensued.
733
00:39:01,800 --> 00:39:05,095
And Daniel killed Donal.
734
00:39:05,887 --> 00:39:09,391
[**]
735
00:39:09,432 --> 00:39:11,226
NARRATOR:
Although police discovered
736
00:39:11,267 --> 00:39:14,896
a large pool of blood
on a mattress in Donal's house,
737
00:39:14,938 --> 00:39:17,982
the autopsy report
indicates the fight ended
738
00:39:18,024 --> 00:39:20,777
with Daniel strangling Donal.
739
00:39:22,112 --> 00:39:23,988
SCOTT: They were able
to determine
740
00:39:24,030 --> 00:39:25,490
the damage to the lower neck
741
00:39:25,532 --> 00:39:29,411
and the hyoid bone
was present.
742
00:39:34,290 --> 00:39:37,252
[**]
743
00:39:37,293 --> 00:39:39,087
NARRATOR: After killing Donal,
744
00:39:39,129 --> 00:39:41,381
investigators surmised
that Daniel Tennity
745
00:39:41,423 --> 00:39:43,466
left the scene
to figure out a plan
746
00:39:43,508 --> 00:39:46,386
for covering up his crime,
747
00:39:46,428 --> 00:39:49,931
leaving Donal's dead body
on the mattress.
748
00:39:49,973 --> 00:39:51,933
The stains on the mattress
are determined
749
00:39:51,975 --> 00:39:54,978
to be from the body
beginning to decay.
750
00:39:57,147 --> 00:39:59,149
DET. CASEY: Daniel tried
to get what he could get,
751
00:39:59,190 --> 00:40:02,318
as far as checks,
and credit cards, and things.
752
00:40:02,360 --> 00:40:04,154
Then Daniel decided
he would buy
753
00:40:04,195 --> 00:40:05,405
the chest freezer.
754
00:40:07,157 --> 00:40:10,035
He brought it to the location
755
00:40:10,076 --> 00:40:12,829
and loaded Donal's body
in the freezer.
756
00:40:14,080 --> 00:40:15,623
He left the freezer
in the house
757
00:40:15,665 --> 00:40:17,250
for several days,
758
00:40:17,292 --> 00:40:19,836
and when he came back
to the house,
759
00:40:19,878 --> 00:40:24,007
he discovered that Donal
was decomposing.
760
00:40:25,425 --> 00:40:29,971
SCOTT: We always wondered
why he just did not plug
761
00:40:30,013 --> 00:40:32,223
the freezer in, I mean,
762
00:40:32,265 --> 00:40:35,143
the common person
would just plug it in
763
00:40:35,185 --> 00:40:36,644
and use the meat freezer.
764
00:40:36,686 --> 00:40:39,522
You can store a body
in there indefinitely.
765
00:40:43,485 --> 00:40:45,945
DET. CASEY: Daniel then
brought the freezer
766
00:40:45,987 --> 00:40:48,281
back downstairs,
767
00:40:48,323 --> 00:40:49,616
couldn't control the freezer,
768
00:40:49,657 --> 00:40:51,284
it tumbled down the stairs.
769
00:40:53,036 --> 00:40:54,537
Causing all the damage.
770
00:40:56,706 --> 00:40:59,209
He needed to get rid
of the freezer.
771
00:41:00,251 --> 00:41:02,504
That's when he devised,
772
00:41:02,545 --> 00:41:05,340
the plan of obtaining
the property
773
00:41:05,382 --> 00:41:07,092
up in Canaveral Groves,
774
00:41:08,551 --> 00:41:10,929
and renting the backhoe.
775
00:41:14,307 --> 00:41:16,393
And disposing the body
up there.
776
00:41:18,478 --> 00:41:20,689
As it turned out,
Daniel had spent
777
00:41:20,730 --> 00:41:24,567
over $29,000
of Donal's money,
778
00:41:24,609 --> 00:41:27,654
mainly just trying
to dispose of the body.
779
00:41:30,115 --> 00:41:33,118
SCOTT: It-- it was just,
uh, basically a comedy
780
00:41:33,159 --> 00:41:35,412
of errors for anybody,
781
00:41:35,453 --> 00:41:38,498
how to not commit a crime.
782
00:41:41,001 --> 00:41:43,128
NARRATOR: When confronted
with the overwhelming evidence
783
00:41:43,169 --> 00:41:45,714
against him,
Daniel Tennity decides
784
00:41:45,755 --> 00:41:48,008
he has no options left.
785
00:41:58,601 --> 00:42:02,397
DET. CASEY:
Daniel Tennity pled guilty
786
00:42:02,439 --> 00:42:05,150
and was sent
into a 40-year prison term
787
00:42:05,191 --> 00:42:08,236
for the murder
of Donal O'Sullivan.
788
00:42:18,288 --> 00:42:21,166
NARRATOR: For Donal's band
of young skateboarding pals,
789
00:42:21,207 --> 00:42:26,046
Daniel's admission of murder
is difficult to comprehend.
790
00:42:26,087 --> 00:42:28,548
You never think
somebody's gonna kill
791
00:42:28,590 --> 00:42:31,509
somebody else
in your crew. Ever.
792
00:42:34,137 --> 00:42:38,475
For me, personally,
it was horrible because...
793
00:42:38,516 --> 00:42:39,768
I was the person
that introduced
794
00:42:39,809 --> 00:42:43,063
these two people together.
795
00:42:43,104 --> 00:42:45,440
And that will haunt me
till the day I die.
796
00:42:45,482 --> 00:42:48,234
[**]
797
00:42:48,276 --> 00:42:49,652
Excuse me.
798
00:42:56,451 --> 00:43:01,122
TED: Donal was a good soul,
and, uh,
799
00:43:01,164 --> 00:43:06,461
his removal from this world
in such a wicked way,
800
00:43:06,503 --> 00:43:07,629
uh, was a shame,
801
00:43:07,671 --> 00:43:09,464
because the world,
802
00:43:09,506 --> 00:43:13,259
uh, was a better place
for D being in it.
803
00:43:14,594 --> 00:43:16,680
I don't know what better
legacy there could be
804
00:43:16,721 --> 00:43:20,600
than have people
who knew you just say,
805
00:43:20,642 --> 00:43:22,185
you're the best kind
of person.
806
00:43:23,812 --> 00:43:26,064
I think that's the way
he would have wanted.
807
00:43:36,533 --> 00:43:37,492
[WAVES CRASHING]
808
00:43:37,534 --> 00:43:40,704
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]